Elevator yoke



F. J. YOUNG ELEVATOR YOKE June 9; 1936.

I 2 SheetsSheet 1 Filed Nov. '7, 1935 June 9, 1936,. F. J. YOUNG ELEVATOR YOKE Filed NOV. 7, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 9, 1936 UNITED STATES ELEVATOR YOKE Forrest J. Young, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor, by mesne assignments, to The National Superior Company, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application November 7, 1933, Serial No. 696,973

8 Claims.

This invention relates to an elevator yoke used with a supporting hook and pipe elevator for handling drill pipe, casing or tubing in connection with well drilling operations.

An important object of this invention is to provide an elevator yoke that can be employed in connection with a pipe lifting elevator for facilitating the application or removal of the elevator relative to the supporting hook.

This invention contemplates further the provision of an elevator yoke which will compensate for the inequalities in the lengths of the elevator bails and thereby equalize the stresses in those elements.

Another object of this invention is to provide means for retaining the elevator yoke in position on the elevator bails. Other objects of the invention will appear from the following description.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the elevator yoke applied as a connection. between the elevator and hook.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the elevator yoke.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary front elevation showing a modification of the elevator yoke.

Figure 4 is a side elevation partly in section showing the modification illustrated in Figure 3.

Figures 5 and 6 show in end and front elevation respectively a modification in the manner in which the elevator yoke can be suspended from the hook.

Figure '7 is a side elevation of a swivel and elevator suspended from a hook according to the practice now generally prevalent in the oil fields.

In order that the benefits and advantages of the invention be fully appreciated, a brief description of the existing practice in handling drill pipe and casing with an elevator is first submitted. Referring particularly to Figure '7 of the drawings which show a hook H from which is suspended a swivel S and an elevator E. It is very common practice when drilling to leave the elevator E suspended from the hook H by means of the bails B. This is a very undesirable practice since the balls B wear a groove in the throat of the hook with the result that an inadequate and unequal bearing is provided for the bails when they are shifted to a central position in the absence of the swivel. Furthermore, the opening in the hook to provide for such a combination must of necessity be larger than would otherwise be required if the hook handled the swivel and elevator separately.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2 which show one embodiment of my invention, l indicates the upper end of a section of drill pipe or casing which is suspended from an elevator 2. The elevator 2 is provided with bifurcated openings 3 within which is positioned links or bails 4. The upper ends of the bails 4 fit within spaced notches 5 formed in the elevator yoke 6. Bolts or pins '1 are provided in the yoke 6 to span the openings formed by the notches 5 to prevent any accidental removal of the bails from the yoke. Rivets 8 intersecting the pins 1 provide for retaining the latter against withdrawal. Clips 9 are clamped on the two bails in a diagonal relation to prevent the yoke from accidentally sliding down the bails when the elevator assembly including the bails and yoke is being moved around the derrick floor. Loop means in the form of an eye I0 is formed centrally of the yoke 6 to facilitate handling of the assembly in the derrick by means of a hoisting cable.

When it is desired to use the elevator for lifting or lowering the drill pipe or casing in the well, the drilling swivel is removed from the hook II and the elevator assembly including elevator 2, links 4 and yoke 6 is moved into position for the hook II to engage in the opening 12 formed in the yoke. The safety link I3 is then secured in place to prevent the yoke from becoming accidentally disengaged from the hook I I. The projecting lugs M which define the sides of the opening l2 permit of a limited pivotal movement of the yoke 6 to compensate for any inequalities in the lengths of the bails 2.

The hook II is preferably of the type shown in my Patent #1,519,430 issued December 16, 1924.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4 showing a modification of my invention, Ha indicates the hook which supports the elevator yoke 6a. In order to maintain the yoke 6a in position on the bails 4a while the elevator is being handled around the derrick floor, I provide a retainer I5 for each bail which fits within the opening 51. The retainer I5 is pivotally mounted on the pin m which is held in position by the rivet 8a The retainer I5 is shaped to conform substantially to the contour of the bails 4a, and in order to provide for the various shapes of bails, I employ plungers H5 in openings l9 near the ends of the retainer [5 which are yieldably urged into contact with the bails 4a by means of springs ll. The plungers are provided with a flange l8 which limits the range of movement of the plunger within the counterbored opening l9. With the construction of retainer thus described the yoke 6a is maintained in frictional contact with the bails 4a at all times 55 link becoming detached from the yoke 6b. When the elevator is being hoisted in the derrick for receiving the next stand of drill pipe that is to be lowered into the well, the derrick man who is stationed up in the derrick to apply the elevator to the pipe must lean forward to grab the elevator preparatory to latching it around the stand of pipe. The open side (i. e. the gate side) of the elevator faces the derrick-man and for that reason it is not desirable to have any obstructions on any of the hoisting tackle facing toward the derrick-man since the operation of engaging the elevator around the pipe is done while the elevator is in motion.

Having fully described my invention, it is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the details herein set forth, but my invention is of the full scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a hook and elevator connecter, including the combination of a yoke adapted to be supported by a hook, spaced bail receiving notches in said yoke, means extending from said yoke on opposite sides of the hook to provide a stop in co-operation with the hook to limit the pivotal movement of said yoke incidental to its equalizing action.

2. In a device of the class described comprising a hook, an elevator, a yoke detachably supported by the hook, said yoke having spaced bail receiving notches, bails fitted within the notches and depending from the yoke to support the elevator and yieldable retaining means mounted on said yoke to engage the bails to yieldably restrained displacement of the yoke from its nordisplacement of the bails relative thereto, said bail retainers extending transversely of the principal plane of the yoke, plungers mounted near the ends of the retainers and spring means to yieldably urge said plungers into engagement with the bails.

4. In a device of the class described, comprising a hook having an upwardly extending opening, an elevator, a yoke having a downwardly extending opening detachably supported within the hook opening, bails carried on either end of said yoke and adapted to support the elevator, and loop means on said yoke to facilitate the application and removal of said yoke relative to the hook.

5. In a hook and elevator connecter, including the combination of a yoke adapted to be supported by a hook, said yoke being formed to define a downwardly extending opening in the underside thereof and adapted to straddle said hook and limit the pivotal movement of said yoke on the hook, and bails carried on either end of said yoke and adapted to support the elevator.

6. In a device of the class described comprising a hook, an elevator, a yoke carried by the hook, said yoke having spaced bail receiving notches, bails fitted within the notches and de pending from the yoke to support the elevator and yieldable means mounted on said yoke adapted to engage the bails to yieldably restrain relative displacement of the yoke and said bails.

7. In a device of the class described including a load carrying member having a bail receiving notch, a bail adapted to be fitted within said notch and engage a surface on said member for supporting a load suspended therefrom, and yieldable means mounted on said member adapted to engage said bail to yieldably urge said bail into positive engagement with the supporting surface provided on said load carrying member.

8. In a device of the class described including a load carrying member having a bail receiving notch, a bail adapted to be fitted within said notch, a bail retainer pivotally mounted on said member to close the notch opening and engage the bail at points adjacent the extremities of said retainer to restrain relative displacement of the member and bail, said retainer at one extremtional contact with said bail.

FORREST J. YOUNG. 

